What Makes the Volvo XC60 One of the Most Efficient SUVs of its Segment?
March 23 2022,
Volvo is known for making safe and luxurious vehicles that are also very efficient and the XC60 is not exception. Here are some of the reasons why it is more efficient than its competition.
The standard hybrid powertrains
For 2022, Volvo replaced its T5 and T6 turbocharged gasoline engines with the B5 and the B6 powertrains. Both are a reworked version of the previous engines which have now added a 48-volt mild hybrid system. By working in tandem with the turbocharged gasoline engine, the electric motor reduces the fuel consumption by providing a boost in power and torque under acceleration, which takes some of the load from the gasoline engine. In addition, this system allows the vehicle to move slowly without using fuel by keeping the engine stopped for longer periods of time when stuck in traffic, for example. Another feature that is part of the hybrid system is the regenerative braking, which uses the energy created by slowing down the vehicles in order to charge the battery. The only difference between the B5 and B6 versions are the addition of a supercharger on the gasoline engine, which increases its power output for the model with the highest number.
The Eco mode
The Volvo XC60 comes standard with a drive mode selector that makes it possible for the driver to tune certain vehicle parameters to their own personal preferences. For example, the Eco mode reduces the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal and changes the transmission’s shift points in order to maximise the efficiency. This works by making harsh accelerations less likely to occur simply because they now require much more pedal travel to reach the same level of acceleration that would normally be expected. In addition, the transmission tries to keep the engine’s speed as low as possible when driving at stabilised speeds by shifting into a higher gear as soon as it can.